The last time the Republicans had both houses of Congress and the presidency we got an irresponsible Congress that gave us huge tax cuts for the rich that we couldn't afford and an unfunded war we shouldn't have fought, setting us up for an economic catastrophe we didn't need.

Chances are good that we will soon be acknowledging JPII as "Saint," but none of this will make much difference in how Catholics live their lives everyday. There is a more important reason, I think, to remember JPII.

British scientists have discovered "cognition" in a vegetative patient. This may encourage some at the "natural death" end of the pro-life spectrum. But I find it more to be a sign of our cultural denial of death than an affirmation of life.